The company now also repairs larger, more complex chassis parts in order to cut times and costs even further. Delamination and fiber tearing are prevented. This enables higher feed rates and in-feeds, longer tool life and significantly improved surfaces. Systematic superimposed high-frequency vibration on tool rotation reduces process forces by up to 40 percent. The second generation of the technology supports ultrasonic-assisted milling with a defined cutting edge. Ultrasonic technology from Sauer GmbH, a member of the DMG Mori Group, is a major key to more gentle and efficient machining of composites and other materials such as ceramics or nickel-based alloys. TGR-E and DMG Mori have cooperated for years to create the foundation for such machining, and the results can be seen in the machine shop. Such operations call for appropriate process know-how, suitable machining strategies and tools and a high-performance CNC system that supports the operator in every situation. Machining composite parts with inserts made of titanium and other difficult-to-machine materials is even more complicated. The individual layers must be prevented from separating from each other (delamination) and the fibers prevented from tearing. One challenge is difficult-to-machine composites consisting of several combined layers made, for example, of carbon or Kevlar fibers. “The Sinumerik 840D sl is our preferred control system for composite machining,” said Marcel Voigt (left), senior manager, production and supply chain management for TGR-E, with Ralf Friedrich, Siemens sales engineer for DMG Mori. These are then machined at maximum cost efficiency using single and multiple clamping. With travel distances of 2,000 × 2,000 × 1,200 mm (X-Y-Z), the DMU 200 gantry machine is ideal for five-axis machining of structural parts for racing vehicles and other composite components.
TGR-E’s aims to keep its large machines free for very large components such as complete chassis and to machine medium-sized parts on a somewhat more compact machine with lower hourly rates using dry machining only.
This spurred investment in the new DMG Mori gantry machine. “To do so at competitive conditions, we need to utilize our highly specialized machinery as best we can-especially in the field of CNC machining-and ideally generate unmanned processes from quantities of two and higher wherever we can,” said Marcel Voigt, senior manager, production and supply chain management.
TGR-E is also a profit center that provides its wide range of services-from engineering through to manufacturing-to external companies. At its site in Cologne, the company produces core components for three successful cars in the FIA World Rally Championship and is involved in developing high-performance Toyota road-going cars.
The cars of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team take top positions in races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The machine’s Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl open CNC system ensures dynamic, precise and flexible processes. (All images provided by Siemens)įor high-performance dry machining of complex composite components, the company has added a new DMG Mori DMU 200 gantry machine to its machine fleet. Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe is competitive not only in racing but in contract manufacturing. All of this is done with maximum flexibility, precision and quality, and in most cases in extremely small batch sizes. The company’s core competencies are developing, testing and manufacturing complex components for engines, chassis and cooling systems through to complete chassis units–including all molds–for racing and rally vehicles. The Cologne, Germany-based Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe (TGR-E) is the production “rescue crew” in the motorsport team of the Japanese car manufacturer.